Cruise to Urquhart Castle, beautiful Beauly, Culloden Battlefield, and Clava Cairns stones.
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- 1 Day Cawdor Castle & Cairngorms National Park
1 Day
24 Hour Cancellation
From ancient Bronze Age sites like the Clava Cairns stones to the legendary Cawdor Castle near Inverness, each place that you'll visit on this trip offers a unique glimpse into Scotland’s storied past. Along the journey, you’ll encounter local wildlife, meet a highland cow, and explore a rare ancient Scots Pine forest. Take a midday lunch stop in the lively town of Aviemore before heading to Cairngorms National Park to soak in its spectacular mountain scenery. A splendid day full of history, nature, and local culture!
Tour Highlights
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle, dating back to the 14th century, is a place of history and legend. Famous for its ties to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it’s said the castle was built around a holly tree, which you can still see today! A true Highland gem.
Hairy Coo
Highland Cows, or Hairy Coos as they’re affectionately known, are beloved for their shaggy coats, long horns, and gentle nature. They’re iconic symbols of Scotland’s rugged landscape and are surprisingly hardy. Their grazing naturally keeps invasive species in check, giving native plants room to grow.
Ancient Scots Pine Forest
Scotland’s ancient Scots pine forests are precious and rare, with only a few remaining. They are vital for biodiversity, home to rare wildlife, and protect ecosystems. A true treasure of Scotland’s natural heritage!
Small Group Tour
Small groups, big adventures! Our small group tours offer an intimate, relaxed way to explore while you soak up Scotland's magic. Please note that, due to vehicle availability, there may be instances where this tour operates on a larger bus.
Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park is an area of vast natural beauty, and is the largest national park in Britain. Scotland’s wild scenery can be found in abundance, with lochs, glens, rivers and mountains as far as the eye can see.
Clava Cairns
Clava Cairns is a special place, from the peaceful setting to the arrangement of 4000 year old stones. The prehistoric structures include ring cairns, passage graves, and standing stones; perfect for staging your very own Outlander-inspired photo!
Inclusions
Small Group Tour
Passionate Local Guide
Live Commentary & Storytelling in English
What Other Explorers Say
Emily was amazing. She was friendly, engaging and had a wealth of knowledge and passion for her subject matter. She was so funny and kind to all in our group. The places we saw had adequate time to enjoy.
Celene
17/09/2025Sonia was an absolute gem of a guide! She made sure we all got what we wanted out of the tour, was very knowledgeable, incredibly kind, and even gave us insight on things planned for later in our trips. Could not recommend her more.
Ginny
17/09/2025Sonia was wonderful! She was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about our stops and the areas between. The Cairngorms are beautiful and Cawdor Castle was really interesting. Overall, the tour was really fun.
Jessica
12/09/2025We had a lovely time. Emma and Tabbie were great! It was a laid back day, which we appreciated. We also liked visiting the lochs.
Kira
13/08/2025Tony and Duffy were great. Very nice and very educated experience. They both knew their stuff! We learned so much from the land and history of Scotland. They made it fun. They watched out for our group well and made sure they shared all their knowledge of every place we visited. 100% recommend them.
Alana
30/07/2025A good selection of themes in one tour! The mystic Clava Cairns from the Bronze Age, the dreamy Cawdor Castle and its gardens, the spectacular Cairngorn National Park and some other remarkable points, guided by Tony and Craig, always kind, funny and full of knowledge and anecdotes! One of the best opportunities to get a true Highlands experience.
Karin
25/07/2025My mum and I had a wonderful tour, our guide Craig was funny and insightful. Appreciated the toilets always being pointed out and mentioned along the way. The sandy beach was beautiful, and I love streams and found me a few to wander by the shores of as well. Cawdor castle audio guide was shorter than anticipated, but the gardens were absolutely lovely! Well worth it on that alone.
Laura
18/07/2025Nice day trip with historical stops, nature and discoveries, beach relaxation, souvenir shopping... very friendly guide. Good relaxing atmosphere.
Laurent
18/07/2025We had a wonderful day on this tour led by Karen. The day was well-balanced with a variety of activities and Karen went out of her way to keep everyone happy and shared lots of wonderful local knowledge!
Meg
15/07/2025Book this! Tour guides Emily and Tabby were absolutely delightful. If traveling in Scotland without a car, and relying on one’s feet, trains, buses, etc., it can be difficult to access the countryside. With this tour, one gets to see a lovely intact castle with stunning gardens, two beautiful mountain lochs, an ancient cairn site, forests, and an hour’s stop in a small town for lunch. A wonderful day!
DCTrip96
11/06/2025Emily and Tabby were great fun to travel with. Smooth driving, on time for everything. Most of all though was the very informative, fun, often funny stories and banter… which makes learning so much more fun. The stops were all interesting and picturesque. Loved the whole day. (I’m also writing for those in my party (with their blessings), who can’t leave a review of their own. Thanks for a great trip!!
Brian
11/06/2025I had a really good day with Iain as our guide. We went to places I would have never thought to go to. The whole experience was very fun and educational. Iain has an indepth knowledge of everywhere we went amd could answer any question we had.
Phoebe
02/06/2025The tour was excellent, our guide Iain McGillivray was so knowledgeable and told great stories. The scenery was spectacular, love Scotland and Inverness! Highly recommend!
Kelly
02/06/2025The experience was amazing. The guide was so fun and joyful. Karen shared amazing stories along the tour and I have never been more amazed by someone’s energy for a tour guide ;) It is very accessible and safe! Definitely recommend going on this tour! The scenery is absolutely unbelievable. The lochs are fantastic!
Beatriz
30/05/2025Harrison is an excellent tour guide, with great knowledge of the places on the tour and a humorous delivery! The tour was the perfect one-day length and covered a wide variety of excellent sites.
Henry
28/05/2025Enjoyed the day trip with Karen, who is an engaging and friendly guide, sharing about info Scotland, and readily to answer questions. The nature walk to Cairngorms is nice and relaxing. A recommended if you like leisure nature walks. Karen will also share about Scotland as she drove around. Its an interesting experience.
Elpidia
16/05/2025Wonderful castle tour and excellent, fun guide,! Torquil was a great guide taking opportunities for different photo ops and loved the loch stops too.
Clara
12/05/2025Emily is awesome! Loved her humour, her stories, and her vibrancy! Thank you for making this tour memorable and fun, 🤩 ✨
Ramona
09/05/2025The tour with Emily was amazing. She showed us beautiful places, gave the right amount of info while letting us enjoy the tour on our own as well. Cawdor Castle was a highlight as well as the Loch Murloch.
Marie
09/05/2025It was a lovely experience. I had a lot of fun. I have seen many beautiful places and the timing was on point. Thank you for the experience.
Carla
09/05/2025Great way to cover the highlights of the area! Great tour guide, Well worth the trip so you can see the highlights of the area.
Tracy
24/04/2025Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the tour depart from?
Your Cawdor Castle & Cairngorms National Park tour departs from the city centre in Inverness. For more details on your pick-up location, please visit our Departure Info page.
How long is the tour?
In total, this tour spans approximately 8 hours*. An ideal balance between driving through vast Highland scenery and time spent exploring the surroundings.
*Length of tour may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions.
Do I need to book the entrance to Cawdor Castle in advance?
Yes, we highly recommend booking the entrance to Cawdor Castle as an add-on at the time of booking the tour. Please note that there are limited alternative activities nearby, so booking the castle entrance in advance is essential to make the most of your time here.
Are there toilet facilities on the coach?
While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.
Are your tours accessible?
Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.
Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.
It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.
Can I purchase snacks or souvenirs at the stops along the way?
Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.
Where can I get a more detailed itinerary?
Our itinerary (in tab 2, 'Itinerary & Departure') provides a helpful outline of what to expect on the day. We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined there, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. We also believe that part of the excitement comes from the unexpected surprises along the way! Rest assured, your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other.
What if I need to cancel my tour?
If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.
I have more questions. How can you help?
Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.
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- 1 Day Cawdor Castle & Cairngorms National Park
Cawdor Castle & Cairngorms National Park Itinerary & Map
Day 1
Cawdor Castle & Cairngorms National Park
Our journey begins as we head to the ancient Clava Cairns stones, one of Scotland’s most well-preserved Bronze Age burial sites. Following this, we’ll make our way to the legendary Cawdor Castle near Inverness, a site rich in history and captivating tales surrounding its origins. Immerse yourself in Cawdor Castle’s charm as you explore its historic halls and wander through its beautifully landscaped gardens.
At our next stop, you’ll get to meet one of Scotland’s favourite four-legged locals – the iconic hairy coo*! Afterward, enjoy a leisurely stroll through an ancient Scots Pine forest, home to Scotland’s rare and majestic native trees. We’ll then pause for lunch in the vibrant town of Aviemore, a perfect spot to soak in the local atmosphere.
Our journey continues through the breathtaking landscapes of Cairngorms National Park, where stunning scenery and the possibility of wildlife sightings await. As the day winds down, we’ll head back to Inverness, arriving in the early evening.
*The order of stops may vary, so you might see highland cows at a different point in the journey.
1 Day Tour Itinerary & Map
View Map
Itinerary | Cawdor Castle & Cairngorms National Park
Our journey begins as we head to the ancient Clava Cairns stones, one of Scotland’s most well-preserved Bronze Age burial sites. Following this, we’ll make our way to the legendary Cawdor Castle near Inverness, a site rich in history and captivating tales surrounding its origins. Immerse yourself in Cawdor Castle’s charm as you explore its historic halls and wander through its beautifully landscaped gardens.
At our next stop, you’ll get to meet one of Scotland’s favourite four-legged locals – the iconic hairy coo*! Afterward, enjoy a leisurely stroll through an ancient Scots Pine forest, home to Scotland’s rare and majestic native trees. We’ll then pause for lunch in the vibrant town of Aviemore, a perfect spot to soak in the local atmosphere.
Our journey continues through the breathtaking landscapes of Cairngorms National Park, where stunning scenery and the possibility of wildlife sightings await. As the day winds down, we’ll head back to Inverness, arriving in the early evening.
*The order of stops may vary, so you might see highland cows at a different point in the journey.
Day Highlights
Departure Point
Inverness City Centre
15 Union St Inverness*, IV1 1PP *Across from the entrance to the Victorian Market. Look out for a blue or yellow coach bus. For parking, we recommend the Old Town Rose Street Multi-Storey – less than a 10-minute walk from our departure point.
Not sure how to get here? Find more info on our Departure Info page.
Departure & Return Time
Check-In Closes: 8:30 AM
Departs: 8:45 AM
Returns: 5:00 PM
Please Note
We are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals. Return times are approximate and subject to road conditions and weather. Please ensure you allocate sufficient time for any onward travel plans, allowing at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for connections or activities.
Tours Dates & Prices
Choose a departure date, number of people and accommodation option.
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Cawdor Castle & Gardens
Reserve at the time of booking
Enjoy a discounted entry fee when visiting Cawdor Castle and its gardens on this trip. Wander through enchanting gardens, explore the castle where Shakespeare's Macbeth was set, and discover the legendary thorn tree at the heart of this unique Scottish gem. Please note that there are limited alternative activities nearby, so booking the castle entrance in advance is essential to make the most of your time here.
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